Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
In a 3-2 vote, Santa Barbara County Supervisors passed an ordinance to allow fines for those violating the Health Officer’s Orders regarding COVID-19.
This new ordinance provides peace officers and other public officers designated by the Director of Emergency Services with a tool to enforce restrictions within the unincorporated areas of the County, aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. This only applies to the unincorporated areas of the county which include Isla Vista where three virus outbreaks were recently discovered.
Kelly Hubbard, Director of the Office of Emergency Management, stated the reason for the proposed ordinance is due to the county’s concern of a rise in flu cases spurring a “twindemic,” the upcoming holidays and cold weather causing indoor gatherings, students congregating, and general weariness of COVID-19 restrictions.
The primary focus of the fine would be on all prohibited gatherings. These include large house parties, businesses not complying with capacity limitations, and large groups at a park or beach including adult sports. The fines would not apply to individuals walking down the street without a mask, a family at the beach without masks, or a household sitting at a park and not wearing masks, said Hubbard.
Violations may be called in by local residents, county ambassadors and employees, or law enforcement. Enforcement actions would depend on the jurisdiction and the violation but officials stressed these fines would be used as a last resort where education and outreach would be the primary response. The new ordinance establishes administrative fines of $100, $200, and $500 for violating county health orders.
Supervisors Joan Hartmann, Greg Hart, and Das Williams voted in favor of the ordinance with Peter Adam and Steve Lavagnino opposing.
“There is a real need for an enforcement tool that lies somewhere on the continuum between education and law enforcement, that’s kind of a big gulf between that,” said Supervisor Williams.
Supervisor Lavagnino criticized the ordinance as “well-intentioned” but may result in “unintended consequences” where Supervisor Adam took a stronger approach saying this is meant to “intimidate and coerce.”
“I would prefer that our county government reject the idea of Draconian regulation for failing to comply with health officer orders. I offer you a document titled ‘The Great Barrington Declaration,'” said Adam. “The basic point is that we are doing more harm than good using current control strategies.”
The document referenced by Adam has been widely criticized by scientists and medical experts. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the American National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and lead member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, called the declaration “ridiculous”, “total nonsense” and “very dangerous”, saying that it would lead to a large number of avoidable deaths.
“Today we consider instituting fines for a person’s daring to violate what I and many in our community consider to be unreasonable, unwarranted and unconstitutional infringements of our right of peaceful assembly, freedom to travel, freedom to engage in commerce, and freedom to worship as we choose. These all in the name of preventing the spread of a disease we have learned since March is about as fatal as the normal flu,” said Adam.
He finished his diatribe by referencing Galileo, flat-earthers, and bloodletting as reminders of those who thought they were right but weren’t right at all.
To fact check his assertions, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, doctors and scientists state COVID-19 is thought to have a substantially higher mortality rate (possibly 10 times or more) than that of most strains of the flu.
“There have been approximately 1,118,635 [COVID-19] deaths reported worldwide. In the U.S, 220,133 people have died of COVID-19 between January 2020 and October 20, 2020. The World Health Organization estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die of flu-related causes every year worldwide,” reports Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The Status of Isla Vista
Public Health Director (PHD) Van Do-Reynoso confirmed there are three outbreaks in Isla Vista relating to sorority and fraternity houses with additional cases within the surrounding community.
Do-Reynoso stated the Isla Vista residents took their diagnosis seriously and are abiding by PHD’s recommendations to limit movements. The symptoms are described as mild at best with some fatigue and loss of smell and test but they are not seeing serious symptoms at this point.
PHD and UC Santa Barbara have joined forces to ramp up community testing and anticipate conducting 150 tests per day during a free testing event this weekend. They are also jointly working on contact tracing and supportive services.
Current Numbers & Tier Status
Santa Barbara County does not meet the requirements to move into the lower orange tier. An average-case rate of 1-3.9 per 100,000 population is needed to move down and the county is currently at 4.8 while all other metrics have achieved the orange status. Until the case rate is below 3.9, the county will remain in the red tier.
The outbreaks in Isla Vista were not reflected in this current case count and will be included in next week’s numbers.
As of Tuesday, there are 9,671 COVID-19 cases within the county. Of those, 118 are currently active or infectious with 16 in the hospital including five in the intensive care unit. There have been 119 deaths
More data can be found at: https://publichealthsbc.org/status-reports/
True to form, Adam would go for the fringe document.
Just don’t open the door.
Is the WHO also fringe?
https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/89/7/11-089086/en/
CDC estimated that 151,700-575,400 people worldwide died from (H1N1)pdm09 virus infection during the first year the virus circulated.
To date there have been 1.12 million COVID-19 deaths worldwide.
Apples to oranges?
That’s from 9 years ago and it is arguing against the “precautionary stocking of largely useless antivirals and the irrational vaccination policies against an unusually benign H1N1 virus”. How is that applicable here?
Anti-maskers should be imprisoned.
A day late and a dollar short. Should have done this 5 months ago. Of course, the City lags behind. The neighborhood bar around the corner from where I live opened this week, albeit with rear entry and masks required inside. Of course, while drinking and talking, etc. in a bar in which it is possible to socially distance in only one direction when empty, one can’t wear a mask, and the more drinks one has, the less likely they are to care about the mask. But no enforcement in SB, so every person for him/herself. I guess this is just the way it’s going to be – forever, or at least until a reliable, safe vaccine is available and accessable. Bar = superspreading location. I guess this is one of those times when ignorance is bliss.
Finally some grit to address this crisis. (Well maybe more like a bit of lose sand but a start, belatedly.)
Umm. No. Everyone is at high risk with this virus, since we have not yet figured out how to tell when someone’s immune system will go nuts in response.
SBLETS – Problem is, even young, healthy people can die from this and if they don’t die, they are highly likely to develop long-term issues. This has been shown over and over again. This isn’t as simple as the flu, everyone should know that by now.
No, not apples to oranges. The 1st paragraph references H1n1 but is not about H1N1. I’d say, it is very relevant to how we’ve responded to Covid and relevant to this article. My favorite part “the pandemic policy was never informed by evidence, but by fear of worst-case scenarios.” From your stats Covid is twice as bad a H1N1, yet our response has been orders of magnitude more draconian. Such a severe response would be okay if there was clear evidence these mitigation measures actually worked at defeating the virus. The best they can do is slow the spread yet 8 months in we’re still using this tactic to try and defeat the virus. It isn’t April 2020 anymore! Our hospital capacity has been stellar, we know how to treat it, and we protect the at risk; the mortality rate is fractions what it was in the spring. Yet schools are still closed, livelihoods are being shattered, so many unemployed, so many mentally unwell, and all we have done is delay the inevitable. Just like H1N1 Covid will move through our population and there isn’t much we can do about it, unfortunately with more dire results. Our elected officials, particularly here in California, are making it worse with these policies that aren’t informed by evidence, but by fear of worst-case scenarios.
Yes! We should repeal the bill of rights immediately and do whatever is necessary to force everyone to confirm to the will of 51% of the population.
Your basic premise is faulty. The measures we have taken, though not as severe as they should be, have been proven to slow the spread of the virus. Relax the constraints, the cases and deaths go up. Reimpose the constraints, the cases and deaths go down. What part of that is so hard to understand?
Once again, a constitutional scholar with little knowledge speaks up. The bill of rights says nothing about laws providing for the health of the populace – that was left to the states.
Sacjon, I’m in my 30’s and have personally know 4 young healthy people that have died from prescription drugs. Young, healthy people have far worse to worry about than Covid.
VOICE – sorry for you loss, but we’re not talking about prescription drugs. I can name many things that young people have died from, but that doesn’t make Covid any less of a risk. Odd logic there.
Sacjon, I don’t think you understand the concept of risk. The many things you can name that people have died from, are more risky to young healthy people than Covid. We can protect Grandma, while also not increasing the many other risks, far more dangerous than covid, facing our youth.
VOICE – I understand risk, I also understand simple logic, which you yet again fail to demonstrate. The young healthy people are at risk, not as much risk as elderly, but at risk nonetheless, and no matter how much more risky other activities/situations are, it doesn’t decrease the risk from the given activities/situation. The different activities/situations are unrelated, as are Covid and prescription pills. I can’t believe I have to explain this.
Not just odd logic. Pretzel logic. That’s his signature tactic.
No pretzels, it’s linear (i.e. straight). California’s chosen path has resulted in decreasing one risk (covid) while increasing other risks (drug abuse, mental health, suicide, social developments issues, poverty, famine, etc.). What I have clearly put down that you and Sacjon refuse to pick up, is that for the young and healthy, CA has lowered the risk of something that wasn’t very risky to them, while increasing the risk of many things that are risky to them.
VOICE – no, you didn’t”clearly” put down anything you think you did. The fact remains, covid poses a risk to even young and healthy people. If you really think it’s relevant that other things are more risky (?) and that somehow refutes my statement that young and healthy people are still at risk, then I’m not sure what else to say. Covid puts EVERYONE at risk, the degree of that risk varies. If you truly believe there is absolutely zero risk posed by the virus, then provide your proof. Otherwise, you’re just niggling about how much risk you think it poses compared to other things, which isn’t relevant to my argument that young and healthy people are, whether you like it or not, still at risk of death or long term health effects.
Sacjon. Why don’t you just stop your fairy tale and leave tolkien out of your logic.
I am a lifelong democrat and believer in science. I wear a mask everywhere I go and have only been out to a restaurant twice since March. We have a lunatic running this country and he has to go. But when government starts dictating how many people I can have visit my home at any given time, that is equally as looney. With the measures we have had in place SB County hospitals have yet to be overwhelmed. If IV students are increasing the problems then lock it down, don’t punish the rest of us.
Am I reading this correctly. I can be fined for not wearing a mask, which science is not agreed on the results, which may result in passing on a virus that has a 99.98% recovery rate. Should we therefore also give people fine for not wearing gloves, sharing drinks, and virus containment suits. what a joke. Thankfully all the gatherings I’ve had at my house are protests where the virus can’t spread. Can you imagine if one of these kids is caught without a face mask BUT WITH A PLASTIC STRAW! can we bring back public stonings? #1984 #fearstealsfreedom #electioncold
nation-wide martial law should have been enacted for three weeks in march and all borders sealed. we’d be done with this by now and anti-maskers could find something else to cry like little girls about.
Downtown today – 50% not wearing masks, not even dangling off their chins or flopping over their ears. No masks in sight. State Street again looking very sad, untidy and forlorn. Where is all this “enthusiasm” for the State Street Promenade – none in evidence today. Two red-shirt “ambassadors” pretty much ineffectual, even when trying to warn people they more likely got attitude back- yet the city continues to pay for this non-functional-activity. Two nice kids doing what they were told to do, but had zero impact. Probably hate their job by now. No fan of masks myself, but also no fan of spending so much time and money pretending they matter and seeing such poor results. Yet, the cases continue to go down and the death count is close to zero. Alice dropped down the rabbit hole on this one.
Since some comments here are lifting text from trump tweets:
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/10/trump-distorts-whos-lockdown-comments/
“The primary focus of the fine would be on all prohibited gatherings. These include… large groups at a park or beach” Fine the tent people on East Beach.
Nope read again. The maskless will not be fined. It’s NOT a law. It’s a recommendation by King Newsom. The article specifically says people walking down the street will not fined, so go ahead and keep jumping in the street when I pass by you weirdos.
What a great time for the new Puritans! We can punish anyone having a good time or defying the orthodoxy. Praise the Lord! Be sure to rat out the neighbors you don’t like when they have a Bar-B-Q.
Anti-maskers should be considered domestic terrorists.
No fines for not wearing a mask! Hooray!
LCP, if I call you an ignorant fool, that is namecalling. If I say your positions are extreme, that is an opinion. I disagree with calling posters names. I try not to make fun of their names like Voice of Reason and SBLetsGetAlong even though they are such easy targets.
Correct me if I’m wrong but that grandmother is an adult and can make her own decisions, same with your neighbor. What if she’s loving this covid time as instead of her grandson heading out on the town, he brings his friends over and she actually has some company and laughter in the house instead of loneliness? It’s her decision if she wants to be lonely and eliminate all covid risk or to enjoy her remaining years as she sees fit. The attitudes of several regulars here that think they know what’s best for others, that want to impose their line of thinking on others, that others can’t evaluate a situation and make their own informed decisions; I just don’t like it one bit and I’m not alone on this. Fortunately, I know y’all aren’t representative of the community we live in.
PIT – if they’re too loud at any time of day, you can call it in. Up to you, but if my neighbors were doing this, I’d call it in, especially knowing about the covid cases at the jail. If people are putting my family at risk by spreading the virus and keeping my kids out of school because of the increased numbers, I’d do whatever it takes to shut them down. You’re right to party every weekend stops when my kids can’t go to school.
New CDC guidelines define close contact as being within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes *within a 24 hour period*
What does that say about the safety of resuming classroom schooling?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/21/coronavirus-close-contact-cdc/
3:36 – What that says about “resuming classroom schooling,” is that it is 100% OK and allowed as long as the kids and staff are wearing masks. The CDC’s definition of “close contact” is only relevant in situations where you cannot wear a mask.
They want us to narc on eachother for them! don’t be that guy
Sacjon, you’re neighbors parties are not preventing our kids from going back to school as soon as they can. Even under our benevolent King Newom’s infinite wisdom, GUSD and SBUSD schools are allowed to open, but they remain closed. The reason for the continued closure is not covid or the rates in our community, it’s unions and elections (politics). I despise how our children are being used as paws for political gain.
Please let’s not turn In Our neighbors. We all know where this will lead and if you don’t read up oh history.
Perhaps you should take a closer look at the details.
https://www.statnews.com/2020/10/21/cumulative-time-covid-19-spread/
VOICE – don’t be so short sighted. Our kids “may” return to school on Jan 19 IF we are in the “orange tier.” That means their ability to return to school is dependent on covid numbers going down even further. Parties like this INCREASE the chances of our numbers going up. If everyone was out there acting like there’s nothing to be worried about, our numbers will not go down enough so the the districts will re-open. See how that works? Orange tier = schools reopen. Parties like this = numbers not going down to orange tier and likely increasing. No orange tier, no school. Not sure how much simpler I can make it.
Wait until January
you would fit right in
which one of these did you vote for previously…let that be your guide to Nov 3rd
You said you were leaving.
My young neighbor works at the jail. His coworker was just diagnosed with Covid. He throws parties on the weekend for his coworkers, no social distancing, drinking and shouting and carousing. All while his 85-yr old grandmother is at the house too. If she dies, I’m going to feel bad about minding my own business.
Volleyball players too.
Reputable scientists who are not President Rump Kissers are in agreement, masks help. Mortality rate is 3% average, 5.4% if you are over 70. Misinformation continues- why? LFG joins the extremist crowd on Edhat.
@ 7:04, correct they work to slow the spread, that’s it. Slow the spread so we don’t overwhelm our health care capacity, which throughout this crisis has been WIDE OPEN. As long as our hospital capacity is adequate and we can treat those that need it, slowing the spread doesn’t prevent death (or cases) it just delays them. Why are we still delaying the inevitable when we have plenty of hospital capacity? We’re now day 221 of “15 days to slow the spread”…. schools are still closed, businesses still shuttered, people still out of work, basic medical screenings and treatments aren’t occurring, this will have a lasting impact on the mental health and well being of our children…. these continued restrictions are doing more harm than good!
VOICE – Ok, now I can agree with you on this one. The school closures are terrible for our kids’ development and learning. Private schools have been open for weeks now, it’s time to get our kids back in the classroom, even in a hybrid schedule. The risk outweighs the benefit when it comes to education I feel. Open the schools!
I think it’s telling that you associate scientific research that is inconsistent with your beliefs with Trump. Sounds more like politics than science to me. There are numerous studies of the effectiveness of masks in reducing airborne virus transmission dating back at least to the 1980s. Many of these studies, published long before Trump’s presidency, found masks to be ineffective. The mechanisms by which the virus transmits are not yet fully understood. Mask usage could prove to do more harm than good. Time and research will tell.
Name calling.
neighbors calling 911 on neighbors…great for community relations. can hardly wait to see what happens during Halloween & thanksgiving.
Thanks for pointing this out, and thanks for the link to factcheck.org. The article was very informative and I enjoyed reading it.
I mostly agree with sacjon and pitmix. Voice of Reason: I understand your reasoning and the points you make. They are, however, ill-informed. I recommend reading some of the COVID-19 related articles at medscape.com.
I had COVID-19 for three weeks back in April and it was horrible. Not being able to breathe is really bad news. Please don’t spread misinformation about it. Also, COVID-19 does permanent damage to internal organs including the brain. In my case, my kidney function is now borderline: any worse and I would require dialysis.
Here’s the really bad news: It’s possible to get COVID more than once. Analysis of the virus in those who have had the disease twice show two different strains of the virus. It’s mutating!
Recall that no vaccine was ever developed for the AIDS virus because it mutates too rapidly. Instead, those who are promiscuous take prescription Truvada (Prep) which seems to control it.
Anyway, do everything you can to slow the spread of COVID. It’s no joke. And please check your facts before posting: Peoples lives are at stake. As for Peter Adam and Steve Lavagnino, I consider them loud mouthed idiots.
Opossumboy: You said ” It’s possible to get COVID more than once. Analysis of the virus in those who have had the disease twice show two different strains of the virus. It’s mutating!” This means we will not be getting a vaccine that is helpful in a meaningful way, so how many years should we slow the spread? At what point do we say the response is worse than the virus? For many demographics, especially children, the harms of the response are already worse. You also bring up another good point, we’re not dealing with the same virus you had back in April. People aren’t spending weeks in the hospital, much fewer are dying, and many more are catching it and not having any symptoms or merely mild symptoms. Yet we’re still acting off the worst-case scenario from back in April when Gov. Newsom himself said millions of Californian’s will die. Even if we did nothing, completely ignored the virus, millions would not have died, yet we’re still acting that way.
I take back anything bad I said about edhat because the staff writers hit it out of the ballpark refuting Pete Adams’ reference to that hogwash document that only about .01% of scientists agree with, none of them virologists: :The document referenced by Adam has been widely criticized by scientists and medical experts. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the American National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and lead member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, called the declaration “ridiculous”, “total nonsense” and “very dangerous”, saying that it would lead to a large number of avoidable deaths.”
Aligning with Locke regarding the nature of man dies not make me a radical. I’m libertarian. Give me the info and I’ll make my own decisions. If you prefer a nanny state, that means we disagree fundamentally on the rule of government in our daily lives. Fear sells. You’re buying. If you’re morbidly obese or over 75 with underlying conditions, you don’t want to get covid. The great news is no one has died of old age since March.
Dr. Fauci has been far from perfect during this crisis and people need to stop holding him up as a God. He, and many others, have flat out ignored the negative health consequences of our response, instead choosing to focus solely on covid. For every 10 people saved by our covid response, a certain number will also face an early demise as a result of our response, especially over the long term. This number is very tough to determine now but it will come out in the long run, and it ain’t 0. Especially if you think of it in terms of total years of life lost throughout the population. Our response has saved many years of life for the elderly but also has taken years from the younger generations, only in time will we be able to quantify that.